Smart Polymeric Micelles as Nanocarriers for Gene and Drug Delivery

Polymeric micelles, supramolecular assemblies of block copolymers, are useful nanocarriers for the systemic delivery of drugs and genes. Recently, novel polymeric micelles with various functions such as the targetability and stimuli-sensitivity have been emerged as promising carriers that enhance the efficacy of drugs and genes with minimal side effects. This presentation focuses our recent approach to the preparation of functional block copolymers that are useful for constructing smart micellar delivery systems in advanced therapeutics, including chemo-gene therapy. Particular emphasis is placed on the characteristic behaviors of intracellular environment-sensitive micelles that selectively exert drug activity and gene expression in live cells.